Curtain rail assembly



Sheet GUS TAF MAGNUSSON ATTYS Jam 28, 1969l G. MAGNUssoN CURTAIN RAIL ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 5. 1968 Jan. 28, 1969 G. MAGNUssoN CURTAIN RAIL ASSEMBLY of E Filed Jan. 5, 1968 ATTYS.

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United States Patent O 67 U.S. Cl. 160-345 Int. Cl. A47h 15/00, 1/104;E05d 13/02 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a curtain rail assembly for at least a pair of curtain panels adapted for movement between open and closed positions by means of a common cord including a plurality of curtain slides on which the panels are suspended and at least a pair of end slides to which the lead edge of each of the panels is secured, the improvement comprislng an elongated curtain rail of a configuration to define a center channel having a track in which the curtain slides run or slide and a pair of opposed side channels having trackways within which the end slides run or slide and in which the runs of the cord are disposed.

The present invention relates to an improvement in a curtain rail assembly of the type designed for two overlapping curtains suspended in curtain slides which are movable from a retracted position exposing a window opening or the like and an extended position wherein the ends of the curtain overlap to shield or close the window.

Typically in these assemblies the curtain slides move in a track common to both curtains and are drawn to and fro in the track to position the curtains between open and closed positions by means of a cord common to both curtains and connected to the end slides which move in opposite directions relative to one another during operation. The end slides are `attached to the adjacent leading edges of the curtains in such a manner that the curtains when located in a drawn or closed position, overlap each other.

In these assemblies the end slides which commonly are referred to as center slides run in the same course as the curtain slides, the center slides having a projecting portion invhich the lead edge of the curtain is attached. It has been found that in this type of arrangement, there are several disadvantages and drawbacks of a critical nature. For example, the projecting parts are usually very short which means that there is a limited overlap. Further, the inevitable eccentric loading of the center slide results in deformation of the center slide and in some cases, fracture or failure thereof. This eccentric loading of the center slide also makes it dificult to draw the curtains due to the fact that the center slide tends to assume a skewed position during the drawing operation. A further inconvenience with these conventional curtain rail assemblies is that the operating cord is located and runs above the curtain slides and as a result the cord becomes tangled in the slides producing wear and failure thereof due to contact with the curtain slides.

The present invention provides an improvement in curtain rail assemblies wherein the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks are eliminated. To this end, the curtain rail assembly in its broadest aspect comprises an elongated rail member adapted to be supported along the upper edge of a window or door opening which is of a configuration defining a plurality of channels providing three trackways or tracks, a center or middle track which faces downwardly and two outer trackways. The curtain slides for both curtains run in the center track and the center slides and the cord and end slides run in the outer trackways. In this manner eccentric loading of the center slide is eliminated and the problems with the cord mentioned above are obviated.

These and other objects of the present invention and the various features and details of the construction and operation of a curtain rail assembly in accordance with the present invention are hereinafter more fully set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a transverse sectional view through a curtain rail assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view partly in section of the curtain rail assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3-6 inclusive are transverse sectional views of modified forms of the curtain rail in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, there is shown an embodiment of curtain rail assembly in accordance with the present invention. The assembly includes an elongated rail 11 formed of a pressed or extruded light alloy such as aluminum, the rail having longitudinally extending side anges 1115: and 111b for supporting the rail flush against an overhead support structure such as a ceiling 118 or the like. As illustrated in FIG. l, the support means comprises a bracket 113 secured flush against the ceiling by suitable screw fasteners, the bracket having a longitudinally extending inverted C-shaped lip 114 which engages under the flange 111er. The rail is locked in the position shown in FIG. 1 by means of a locking clamp 116 engaging under the flange 111b, the locking clamp 116 having a tab projection 119 which is held in abutting relation against one edge of a slotted opening 120 in the bracket by the screw 117.

The rail 11 as best shown in FIG. 1 is of a configuration to provide in the present instance three side by side longitudinally extending channels, a center channel and a pair of side channels 14251, 142b on opposite sides of the center channel 140. In the present instance the center channel is of generally rectangular cross section having inwardly directed spaced apart lower ange members 144 and 146, the upper surfaces of which define tracks 12 on which the rollers of curtain slides 15b ride. The curtain panels 16a and 1617 are suspended in a plurality of curtain slides or carriers 15a and 15b respectively which run in the center channel on the tracks 12. The side channels 142a and 14217 have a common sidewall with the center channel and are of C-shaped and inverted C-shaped configuration respectively providing a longitudinal outwardly facing slot or opening and defining trackways 13a and 13b. End slides 14a and 14h `actuated by means of a cord 17 common to both end slides run in the outer trackways 13a and 13b respectively. In the present instance the end slides 14a and 14b mount slotted slide 4blocks 20a and 20b which slide along the inner edge of the outer trackways 13a and 13b respectively.

As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the inner terminal edge 19a of the curtain panel 16a is secured adjacent the lead edge of the slide 14a by means of a hook engaging in an opening therein and the inner edge 19b of the curtain panel 16b is secured adjacent the lead or inner edge of the slide 1411 by means of a hook engaging in an opening adjacent the lead edge. The first curtain slide 15a and 15b adjacent the lead edge is supported in a fixed position relative to the lead edge by means of bifurcated guide members 110a and 110b. These guide members lie in the path of movement of the curtain slides and serve to retract the curtain slides when the panels are moved to an open position.

One run 17a of the actuating cord 17 is disposed in the side channel 142a and the other run 17b of the same cord is disposed in the side channel 142b, the cord being guided around a wheel mounted on a vertical axis arranged at one end of the curtain rail (the left end with respect to FIG. 2) and at the other end the cord runs from each outer trackway 13a and 13b around two separate wheels (not shown) mounted on horizontal shafts at the opposite end of the rail, this cord-supported arrangement being conventional. By this arrangement, since the cord runs in the outer trackways 13a, 13b, it does not come in contact with the curtain slides 15a and 15b and consequently does not become entangled therewith as is often the case with conventional curtain rail assemblies in which the cord runs over the curtain slides. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the run 17a of the cord is attached to a pair of cord attachment blocks 18a and 1i8b which slide in the trackway 13a and straddle the end slid 14a. The run 171; of the cord 17 is attached to the end slide 14b and moves in the opposite direction to the end slide 14a during actuation.

`Considering now briefly the operation of the curtain rail assembly, assume that the curtain panels 16a and 16b are in a fully retracted position and the window opening or the like is fully exposed. Now, if it is desired to draw the curtain panels to a closed position, the run 17b of the cord `17 is drawn downwardly whereby, with respect to FIG. 2, the end slide 14h moves from left to right in the trackway .13b and the block members which straddle the end slide 14a are moved in an opposite direction, that is, to the left in trackway 13a. The slide 14a will be moved in this direction when the block 18b engages the right hand edge thereof. The cord 17 is actuated in this manner until the leading edges 19a and 19h overlap one another in the closed position. To open the curtain panels the slide members are actuated relative to one another in opposite directions by pulling on the run 17a of the cord 17.

During initial actuation of the assembly from` open or closed position, the cord attachment blocks 18a and 1Sb and the end slide 14h are actuated immediately whereas the end slide 14a remains still until one of the cord attachment blocks makes contact therewith. This provides an idling arrangement which may be selectively varied by varying the spacing between the cord attachment blocks on either side of the end slide 14a. This idling arrangement is useful, for example when it is desired to draw simultaneously the curtains of several windows of differing widths with one and the same cord in a manner so that the windows are covered by their respective curtains simultaneously.

Further, it is noted that since the end slides run in separate trackways, the lead edge of the curtains .may be overlapped to the extent desired.

FIGS. 3-6 inclusive show other forms of curtain rails for an assembly of the type illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The end and center slide arrangements and the means whereby the cord and curtain are attached to these elements to actuate a pair of curtain panels between open and closed positions are substantially identical to the principal embodiment and thus some of these details have not been shown in FIGS. 3-6 inclusive for simplicity and ease of presentation.

The curtain rail shown in FIG. 3 generally designated by the numeral 31 is an elongated member which may be produced from a pressed strip of a light alloy, for example, aluminum. The member includes a pair of elongated, longitudinally extending anges 31a and 31b so that it may be mounted flush against a support structure by means of a fastening arrangement similar to that shown in FIG. 1. The rail member is of a configuration to define a threechannel arrangement, in the present instance, contiguous side channels 242er, 242b and a center channel 240` of a 'width substantially equal to the combined width of the side channels and disposed directly below the side channels. The side channels i242a and 24217 are of back-to-back C and inverted C-shaped configuration to provide close side-by-side trackways 33a and 33b for end slides and the actuating cord.

It is noted that the trackways of this rail and of the type of FIGS. 1 and 2 accommodate end slides having rollers which roll on the base of the trackway or end slides having slide blocks which slide on the runner edge 35a and 35b of the trackways. The center channel is defined in part by confronting aligned flanges 37 which are spaced apart to define a longitudinally extending opening therebetween within which are mounted the curtain slides 35 generally of T-shaped con-figuration having a bar 317 riding on the opposed tracks 52. This arrangement is of smaller widthwise cross section and a more compact design in comparison with that shown in FIGS. l and 2.

The curtain rail shown in FIG. 4 is also adapted to be produced from a pressed strip and is of a configuration to dene an upper center channel 340 and two side channels 342:1 and 342b below the center channel. The rail configuration defining these channels includes an elongated flat top 50` having a plurality of openings therein to receive screw fasteners to secure the rail against the support structure S2 and two offset portions 54a and 54h on either side of the top having depending webs 56a and `56b which define the opposing sidewalls of the center channel. The webs 56a and 56b carry the C-shaped and inverted C-shaped longitudinally extending members defining the side channels. The members are spaced apart to define a center opening 60l to accommodate the leg of the T-shaped curtain slides 45.

The tracks 42 of the center channel are formed by a portion of the outer wall of the C-shaped members forming the side channels and the side channels have trackways 43a and 43b for end slides and the actuating cord.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate curtain rails made of rolled sheet steel. The rail shown in FIG. 5 is constructed of two identically profiled members 70a and 70b such that one profile forms an image of the other, each member having a longitudinally extending upper flange 72a and 72b which seat in a longitudinally extending pocket at opposite ends of a support member 76 by which the rail is supported on an overhead structure. The members are of a stepped configuration to define with the panel 76 the upper center channel 440 t0 accommodate T-shaped curtain slides which ride on the center track 78. Each member has an arcuate semi-circular `depending extension `80a and 80b the terminal edge of which is spaced from the center panel to define side channels 442a and 4421 underlying the center channel which face outwardly and provide therebetween a slot 81 to accommodate the leg 0f the T-shaped curtain slide. The extensions define curved trackways 83a and 83h.

The rail of FIG. `6 is an integral one-piece member of a configuration to define a generally trapezoidal upper center channel 540 having a flat top portion whereby it is secured to an overhead support structure and a depending section of reversely curived members defining the side channels 542er and 542!) for the end slides, the outer reverse curve defining the trackways 93a and 93b on which the end slides move.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended to limit the invention to such disclosure and changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a curtain rail assembly for at least a pair of curtain panels adapted for movement between open and closed positions by means of a conmion cord including a plurality of curtain slides from 'which the panels are suspended and a pair of end slides to which the curtain panels are connected adjacent their lead edges, the improvement comprising an elongated curtain rail of a configuration to define a central channel including a track for the curtain slides and a pair of side channels having trackways within which the end slides and the cord run.

2. A curtain rail assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the center channel is of rectangular cross section having a longitudinal slot facing downwardly and wherein the side channels are disposed on opposite sides of the center channel having longitudinal slotted openings extending to the side in opposite directions.

3. A curtain rail assembly as claimed in claim 1 including a pair of cord attachment blocks connected to the cord which are disposed on opposite sides of one of said end slides for movement in the same side channel therewith to provide an idling arrangement.

4. A curtain rail assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the side channels are disposed above the center channel and are of a combined lwidth approximately equal to the width of the center channel.

5. A curtain rail assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the side channels are disposed below the center channel and are of a combined width approximately equal to the width of the center channel and wherein there is a longitudinally extending center opening between the side channels to accommodate the curtain slides.

6. A curtain rail assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the side channels are of arcuate cross section.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Abrott 160--126 Weber 160-345 Greenstadt et al 160-346 Weber 160-345 Ford 160-346 Ford 160-345 X FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

